Technological Innovation, Capability Positional Shifts, and Systemic War

Abstract

Based on a model linking ascent prerequisites, relative decline, long-wave dynamics, and systemic war, the relationships among the pace of technological innovation, relative economic position, and naval capability are examined for Britain (1780-1913) and the United States (1870-1980). In both cases, albeit subject to different lag structures, the pace of technological innovation and relative economic position are interrelated and predict to naval capability share. The findings are quite robust and underscore empirically the dependence of a system leader's relative economic and military position on dynamic economic growth and technological leadership. © 1991, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.